Page 20

ChapterEighteen

H ell yes!

For the past year and a half—no, make that eight years—her life, her wants and needs, had been pushed aside.

Even before then she’d concentrated on raising her daughter alone.

These last eighteen months had been building her life and her confidence back up after spending so many years unable to leave the house while caring for her mother.

Now, she was happy within herself, and her self-esteem soared, thanks to these two.

Lucy could take what they offered or else go back to living alone.

Of course, she could also simply have two very attractive men as just friends.

She looked at Sebastian again. There was no way she wanted this to be a non-physical thing. She wanted more. She wanted to taste those lips, wanted to know what it would feel like to have him kiss her with passion like he’d done to Jack.

And Jack?

It wasn’t surprising she was attracted to him just as much as Sebastian.

It wasn’t the fact that she desired him, but the fact that she wanted them both as much as the other that surprised her.

She understood this was a unique situation, and Lucy’s excitement rose.

Those romance books, the ones that told of ménages, they had thrilled her more than those filled with the usual sweet male-female romance.

A laugh bubbled its way to the surface. She could have her cake and eat it, too. She could have two men! She could have one to control her and two to love.

Sebastian looked surprised and maybe a little puzzled when she chuckled.

The laugh burst from her lips and echoed in the room as she made her decision. The laugh set her free. It gave her permission to do whatever she wanted with her life.

She reached down blindly with one hand and found Jack’s. Leaning forward and feeling extremely bold, she kissed Sebastian lightly on those lips that had been silently beckoning her.

He hesitated for a split second, then his arm came around her head, pulling her closer as his lips pressed tighter and tighter against hers.

She felt Jack move. Still holding her hand tight, he pressed against her.

Sebastian, meanwhile, pressed his tongue against her lips, trying to get her to part them. This was no peck on the lips—this was a kiss! She was in heaven. That kiss was every bit as wonderful as she’d imagined, filled with his control, orchestrating what he wanted her mouth, her lips, to do.

He finally broke apart but rested his forehead on hers. “Lucy,” he murmured then he sat back.

Jack dropped her hand, crouched forward, and touched the side of her face ever so gently, moving her head to face him.

He smiled at her, then his lips were against hers.

He kissed differently but just as exciting.

His was gentle at first then more demanding as he fisted his hand in the hair at the back of her head.

Oh, wow. I could so get used to this!

When they parted, Sebastian cleared his throat then said, “I guess your answer is to take a chance!”

She tittered, noticed how stupid it sounded, covered her mouth with one hand, and nodded her head.

“Come here.”

He pulled her onto his lap and Jack settled on the couch alongside them. He lifted her legs and put them across his knees.

“So, Lucy Willis, I think we just take this slow and steady, let things happen however they may.”

“Okay.” Her heart had begun racing as soon as she made her decision. It still battered against her ribs.

“Let’s learn about each other, let our friendship develop.

Later, we’ll talk about the Dom-sub thing, but for the moment I think we should all relax.

It’s been a pretty intense few days. We’ll let you dictate things, decree how fast or slow we go.

When you’re ready, we’ll talk about limits and wants. ”

When Sebastian said Dom-sub, Lucy tensed, but it seemed like these men weren’t going to rush a newbie into doing things that she wasn’t sure about.

Sebastian, and Jack too, must have felt the sudden stiffness in her body, or maybe they could hear her racing heart, because Sebastian gave her a little hug and said, “We need to learn about each other, Lucy. Jack and I know what we like and don’t.

We have no idea what you do, and I don’t just mean about sex.

I mean everything. It’s like ordering you tofu or something else you hate and expecting you to enjoy it, all because you won’t tell me. So sit back and chill. Okay?”

Lucy nodded, squeaking, “All right.”

It felt a little weird sitting with them both, but Jack rubbed her feet, his fingers magic against her skin. She did know he was simply trying to put her at ease, but those fingers actually sent little tendrils of excitement directly up her legs.

Feeling brave, and kind of shaky, she leaned her head against Sebastian’s shoulder, and he gave her forehead a little kiss.

Jack looked over at her. “Do you like to read, Lucy? All those books in the library, are they just for show now?”

Ah, normal stuff to talk about. I can do that.

“No, they’ve been collected over all the generations.

My grandfather gave me a deep love of fiction.

He and I would read together. My parents were avid readers, too.

I love all genres except Westerns, and I’ve added my share of new books over the years. ”

“Don’t get my man started on books. He’ll never shut up.”

Lucy lifted her head slightly to look at Sebastian. “Don’t you read?”

“Not as much as Jack. He’s always got his head stuck in a book.”

“So do you have anything you like doing?” she inquired innocently.

There was a pause before Sebastian answered. She caught the look he and Jack exchanged and knew exactly what they were both thinking. Sebastian chortled and ignored the question.

“So, did you have lunch, Lucy?”

She shook her head.

“What about breakfast?”

Again, she shook her head.

Sebastian wriggled her until she was partly facing him. “Why not?”

Blushing, she said, “I was too nervous.”

He laughed. “Then it’s time to eat.”

Jack put her feet on the carpet and stood. He grabbed her hands and pulled her upright.

Sebastian rose, and both men wrapped their arms around her. Somehow, they had this ‘three-way’ sort of hug. After a few fumbling tries, she finally got her own arms to go around each man, touching their sides, her head resting on a chest, she wasn’t sure whose.

Sebastian wriggled a hand between them and lifted her face. He lowered his and pressed those gorgeous lips tenderly against hers. It was a sweet, caring kiss, and she found herself wanting more when he lifted his head away.

But then Jack leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, then pressed harder.

She definitely reacted to them both. Oh yes . I could certainly get use to this !

They broke apart with Lucy’s heart still pounding in her chest.

“Get your bag, beautiful, and we’ll take you out to eat.”

Lucy ran quickly out of the room and upstairs to her bedroom.

She’d felt the heat rush to her face as they’d kissed her and knew she’d flushed.

But, actually, it wasn’t just from those kisses.

Inside her head, a voice told her she was being very naughty.

But excitement, and definitely a little apprehension, told it firmly to go away.

Above everything else, she felt attractive and desired.

That self-esteem of hers now headed for the moon.

She still stood in the middle of the room for a moment or two, taking deep, slow breaths.

Her heart responded by settling into a reasonably normal rhythm.

Picking up her wallet and keys, Lucy threw them in a small bag together with her mobile phone.

A quick glance in the mirror made her shake her head ruefully.

Her face was definitely red and her hair untidy.

She quickly ran a brush through it. Oh well, they’d just have to get used to her as much as she had to get used to them.

Going down the back stairs, she found the two men standing in the kitchen looking out the window.

Sebastian spoke. “Have you got your own chickens? That’s one huge chicken coop!”

“Yes, there are only five in there at the moment, but I can remember when my parents had dozens. My mother used to run this as a B&B, so fresh eggs were a must.”

“A bed and breakfast! What a great idea. How come you didn’t continue it?”

“Well, Mum got sick and the place closed. Then when she died, I wasn’t ready to start one.

Plus, I’m a lousy cook. Still, it would be nice to run it again.

I know Mum always had bookings. It’d been very popular with guests from overseas wanting to see more of Australia than just a hotel room.

Of course, the downside is you’re tied to the house so your social life is pretty restricted.

“Still, I know I’d really like to try it.

I’ve kind of decided when I’m in my late fifties I’ll do it.

That is, if I learn to cook.” Lucy looked through the window into the yard.

“Actually, it worked very well because she used the two downstairs bedrooms, so it didn’t really interfere with the rest of the house.

I’ll show you the inside of them on the way out. ”

Jack looked thoughtful. “You know, if you ever decide to open it again, I’m sure we could help you get organized. I could easily set you up a website and run online campaigns. You know, we could even offer discounted dinners at the restaurant, advertise you and us. Double win.”

Sebastian touched Jack’s face lightly. “Good idea. I knew there was a reason I loved you.” He turned back toward Lucy.

Behind him, Jack looked at Lucy, crossed his eyes, then rolled them in an exaggerated fashion, sticking his tongue out a little.

She quickly covered her mouth with her hand to stop from laughing aloud.

“He’s being smart, isn’t he, Lucy?”

“I have no idea what you mean,” she said blithely.

Sebastian wagged a finger at her. “Just what I need, another smart-arse sub.”